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Monday, 2 July 2012

Combat Colds and Flu the Natural Way

When it comes to winter
the common cold and flu tends to spread around, although there is no cure for
these you can take a more natural approach to combating these. Most doctors
just prescribe panadol, maybe some vitamin C and cough mixture, using these can
be of benefit but why not choose to use some of nature’s gifts as well.

Herbs, fruit, water,
honey and essential oils can help boost your immune system and sooth common
ailments that accompany the cold and flu. Eating the right foods and getting
plenty of fresh air also helps.

First priority is rest

Be sure to get enough
rest for your body to overcome the invasion. The chances of infection are
heightened by stress, exhaustion, other chronic illness and depression- all of
these lower your immune system and weakens your bodies fighting ability. If you
have a job where you are unable to have time off be sure to take advantage of
the advice given here, it will help you soldier on.

Diet

At the onset of a cold
start adding plenty of freshly squeezed orange juice to your diet.

When cooking your daily
meals add plenty of fruits, vegetables and eggs as well as garlic and onion.

Boost your meals with
some of the following herbs listed.

Drink at least 6 glasses
of distilled water a day. To learn more on how important water is for our health and the best water to drink visit our water blogs.

If you feel up to it sit
outside for 10-15 minutes per day and have some windows open slightly. The
fresh air from your windows will help circulate clean air and push out the
contagious particles. Burn some essential oil in an oil burner to help clear
the particles in the air as well.

Steam inhalation

You can inhale steam to
relieve a stuffy head and nose. Half fill a bowl of boiling water, put a towel
over your head to trap the steam and inhale for a few minutes at a time. Add
some herbs or essential oil to the water to enhance the benefits.

Hydrotherapy

If you are not suffering
from high temperature having a nice warm bath can sooth aching muscles and
induce relaxation. A warming footbath will assist as well. Thinking positive thoughts while you do this
can help clear a stuffy head. Add herbs or essential oils to the bath to
enhance the benefits. Wet wraps which is cloth soaked in herbal water or water
with essential oils can assist a high fever, chest pain and aching muscles. To
learn more about how hydrotherapy and wet wraps works visit our All About Water- Part3

Vitamins

Sometimes our bodies are
not strong enough to combat the cold or flu, this is usually due to having a
poor immune system. Poor immune systems can be caused from stress, poor diets,
lack of exercise, depression and various chronic disease. It can be good to add
a muti vitamin and mineral supplement to your diet. Taking vitamin C on its own
will not do much as vitamin C needs other vitamins and mineral to be broken
down for the body to absorb the goodness. This is a good option if you need to
continue working while suffering from the cold or flu. Always talk to your
doctor, naturopath, or a dietician before adding these to your diet.

Essential oils

Essential oils that help
combat cold and flu are as follows-

Eucalyptus

antibacterial, a
decongestant, can help break up mucus
in the chest, relaxes tired sore muscles.

Spike Lavender

Relives stress and
depression, antiseptic and good for skin ailments- example heat rash and many
more! (spike lavender gives of a lovely smell as opposed to your standard
lavender)

Rosemary

Fights free radicals,
inflammation, bacteria and fungi. On top of this it relaxes the muscles (used
and tested with wonderful results) acts as a decongestant. Can be used as a
throat gargle in herbal form(fresh herbs)!

Peppermint

Aids digestion and
clearing of nasal cavity, full of natural vitamins but one you need to talk
to your doctor about. Can interfere with common medication.

Reduces fever, has
strong antiseptic properties, great for asthma and other chest problems

Chamomile

Reduces inflammation,
stimulates the appetite, acts as a stimulant that induces relaxation, eases
headaches and pain.

Here are some ways to use essential oils for cold and flu-

- Put some drops in a oil
burner

- Put some in a bath and
relax

- Make a air freshener and
spray every 4 hours. Visit our cleaning blog to find out how to make this.

- Clean down areas in
your home such as doorknobs, cupboard handles, and toilet seat using the room
spray

Herbs

Herbs that combat colds
and flu are as follows-

Garlic

Detoxifies the body and
protects against infection by enhancing the immune system. Helps with blood
circulation, asthma, cancer, heart problems, digestive problems, liver and
yeast infections, Virtually good for any disease or infection. Use garlic as
much as you can!

Thyme

Reduces fever, has
strong antiseptic properties, great for asthma and other chest problems

Ginger

fights inflammation in
the chest, reduces spasms and cramps. Strong in antibacterial and antioxidant
effects. Very warming and helpful for
many ailments.

Parsley

This is where we can go
crazy, many of us do not understand the greatness of parsley! I single this
out for a reason. It has all the
vitamins you search for, parsley works
at cell level. . It can stop cancer
tumours and other cancer causing growths. It expels worms, relives gas,
stimulates normal digestive functions and freshens the breath.. It helps your
liver, kidney, lung, stomach and thyroid glands. Great for an overall immune
system boost. On top it can help regulate high blood and low pressure, kidney
disease and prostate disorders. Add
parsley to all your food, forever and a day! If we could recommend any herb it would be
Parsley, it is the best!

Rosemary

Fights free radicals
just like the others but when you combine the effects this can be a major
free radical, which means that the foods you eat is not eating you. Awesome for a hydrotherapy bath clears
contaminating air Bourne particles, make all your muscle pain disappear. Rosemary is used to detox the mind, what do
you want to let go of?

Chamomile

is used for relaxation. Chamomile is my next
best herb, chamomile sorts out all the natural stuff that we can’t sort out!

Mint &

peppermint

Aids digestion and
clearing of nasal cavity, full of natural vitamins but one you need to talk
to your doctor about. Can interfere with common medication. Great for steam inhalation.

Anise

Aids digestion, clears
mucus from the air passage, combats infection and good for a stuffy nose. Great
for steam inhalation.

Sage

Stimulates the central nervous
system, reduces hot and cold flushes, beneficial for mouth disorders such as
tonsillitis and sore throat.

Here are some ways to use herbs for cold and flu-

- Make a herbal tea to
drink

- Tip a cup full of herbal
tea into a bath and relax

- Make a bath wrap using a
piece of fabric filled with herbs and tie it at the top.

- Add herbs to cooking

Make your own cold and flu syrup

With the healing
properties of all those foods and herbs why not make your own immune system
boosting syrup, it is easy and can be very effective. Most children will enjoy
taking this syrup as well. You can use any of the above herbs, although we do not
take eucalyptus internally, this is what we make-

Fresh squeezed juice of
two lemons

¼ cup of pure or Manuka
honey

½ tsp of fresh parsley

½tsp fresh mint

½tsp grated fresh ginger

½ tsp of chamomile

Put the above in a pot
and bring to the boil, remove from heat and let cool. Strain and put syrup into
a glass jar. Seal well and store in the fridge to last longer.

This recipe is for
children but for adults add 1tsp of each herb and a shot of scotch or brandy
once cooled.

Ways to use the syrup

Take 1tsp of syrup every
4 hours

Put 1tsp into a cup with
a black tea bag and add boiling water. Wait until cool and sip slow.

Add 1tbsp to a footbath
to warm and moisturise you feet.

Massage

Although it may seem like
a good idea do not have a massage while you have a cold or flu. Massage works
by enhancing the circulation of your blood and if it contains a virus, it will
affect your heart alot quicker.

Another area to take notice of

When we are struck down
with a cold or flu it is usually a sign that we are not caring for ourselves
properly or trying to avoid an issue or just do not know or understand
ourselves enough. This is present in life where other people you have been
around do not develop the disease as you have. Some people can live the most
healthiest physical lifestyle but still get struck down with something, this
where an open mind can assist.

Our mind is a powerful
tool that we have only just started to understand. For years it has been stated
that our mind-body connection is very strong and that our thoughts can affect
our body, in turn our health. What we share here is from The Body Is The
Barometer Of The Soul by Annette Noontil, other related teachings are You Can
Heal Your Life by Louise Hay and metaphysics.

Areas of thought that we
can look at when we get a cold or flu are-

The chest- feeling suffocated, submission or giving in to someone
else’s needs, not doing for yourself.

Coughing- not only do you want to get rid of the virus, which is
the body’s natural defence but you want rid of doing for other people and start
doing for yourself

Headache- limitations, holding onto limitations and not seeing any
good in your situation. Even thinking you are better than someone else,
depending on where the pain is.

Nose blocked or running- not enjoying yourself, this applies to
sinusitis as well. Or not satisfied with what you have done.

Sore throat/loss of voice- not speaking your true thoughts or
beliefs, feeling like no one will understand what you say and even thinking
it’s not worth speaking because no one will understand.

High temp- You are maybe getting steamed up or something makes you
boil, not wanting to be told what to do (hence doing for yourself)

Perfectionism is one main culprit of stress and a rundown immune
system, hence the cold! In today’s world we tend to answer to our boss or our
family, even our clients and sometimes forget about ourselves. The true answer
to wealth is health, if we have health we have a long way to go!

All in all we wish you
health and wealth that comes with it. Take care of you so you can take care of
the world!

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